Luke 9:12-17

9:12 Now the day began to draw to a close, ¹  so ²  the twelve came and said to Jesus, ³  “Send the crowd away, so they can go into the surrounding villages and countryside and find lodging ⁴  and food, because we are in an isolated place.” ⁵  9:13 But he said to them, “You ⁶  give them something to eat.” They ⁷  replied, ⁸  “We have no more than five loaves and two fish – unless ⁹  we go ¹⁰  and buy food ¹¹  for all these people.” 9:14 (Now about five thousand men ¹²  were there.) ¹³  Then ¹⁴  he said to his disciples, “Have ¹⁵  them sit down in groups of about fifty each.” 9:15 So they did as Jesus directed, ¹⁶  and the people ¹⁷  all sat down.

9:16 Then ¹⁸  he took the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up to heaven he gave thanks ¹⁹  and broke them. He gave them to the disciples to set before the crowd. 9:17 They all ate and were satisfied, and what was left over ²⁰  was picked up – twelve baskets of broken pieces.

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¹ tn Grk “the day began to decline,” looking to the approach of sunset.

² tn Here δέ (de) has been translated as “so” to indicate that the disciples’ request was related to the approach of sunset.

³ tn Grk “him”; the referent (Jesus) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

⁴ tn That is, find someone to show them hospitality. L&N 34.61 has “find lodging,” using this verse as an example.

⁵ tn Or “in a desert” (meaning a deserted or desolate area with sparse vegetation). Here ὧδε (Jwde) has not been translated.

⁶ tn Here the pronoun ὑμεῖς (Jumeis) is used, making “you” in the translation emphatic.

⁷ tn Here δέ (de) has not been translated.

⁸ tn Grk “said.”

⁹ tn This possibility is introduced through a conditional clause, but it is expressed with some skepticism (BDF §376).

¹⁰ tn The participle πορευθέντες (poreuqente") has been taken as indicating attendant circumstance.

¹¹ sn Not only would going and buying food have been expensive and awkward at this late time of day, it would have taken quite a logistical effort to get the food back out to this isolated location.

¹² tn The Greek text reads here ἄνδρες (andres) – that is, adult males. The actual count would be larger, since the use of this Greek term suggests that women and children were not included in this number (see the parallel in Matt 14:21).

¹³ sn This is a parenthetical note by the author.

¹⁴ tn Here δέ (de) has been translated as “then” to indicate the implied sequence of events within the narrative.

¹⁵ tn Or “Make” (depending on how the force of the imperative verb is understood). Grk “cause them to recline” (the verb has causative force here).

¹⁶ tn Grk “And they did thus.” Here καί (kai) has been translated as “so” to indicate that the disciples’ action was a result of Jesus’ instructions. The adverb οὕτως ({outw", “thus”) has been expanded in the translation to “as Jesus directed” to clarify what was done.

¹⁷ tn Grk “and they”; the referent (the people) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

¹⁸ tn Here δέ (de) has been translated as “then” to indicate the implied sequence of events within the narrative.

¹⁹ sn Gave thanks adds a note of gratitude to the setting. The scene is like two other later meals: Luke 22:19 and 24:30. Jesus gives thanks to God “with respect to” the provision of food. The disciples learn how Jesus is the mediator of blessing. John 6 speaks of him in this scene as picturing the “Bread of Life.”

²⁰ sn There was more than enough for everybody, as indicated by the gathering of what was left over.